SEGA Mega Drive Mini console test - the biggest disadvantages and advantages of the new 90 s retro platform

I played on the SEGA Mega Drive Mini console, sipping orange and chewing Turbo gum. The new retro platform will appear on store shelves in October. In turn, the SEGI representative has already flown to Poland, along with a miniature console under his arm. Will it be hit or put?

The distributor of the SEGA Mega Drive Mini console in Poland has been Cenega. This is an interesting experience for a company that previously dealt only with software . Distributor approaches the task dead seriously, the best example of which are very unusual tests of the console in the field. Cenega rented a flat in Warsaw and then decorated it in the 90's. There were Turbo gums on the table, bottles of orangeade in bottles, and somebody could eat all their fingers.

In the center of the apartment it was - SEGA Mega Drive Mini console connected to a tiny CRT TV with a giant "back". The TV was planted in a pot. Only the lace tablecloth was perfect. By the 1990s, one could not dream about air-conditioning, also after a dozen or so minutes we all melted in front of the console. The summer heat was ruthless. Despite everything, we played on. Reason? For me, above all, a unique catalog of pre-installed games.

[+] Catalog of installed games

The developers of SEGI Mega Drive Mini do not duplicate the error typical of last year's PlayStation Classic . The list of installed games has been well thought-out and includes the biggest SEGI hits and partners from the first half of the 90's. The memory of the device includes classics: Sonic the Hedgehog with continuation, Earthworm Jim, Golden Ax, Street Fighter II and Virtua Fighter 2. The full list of production is as follows:

  • Sonic the Hedgehog
  • Ecco the Dolphin
  • Castlevania: The New Generation
  • Space Harrier 2
  • Shining Force
  • Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine
  • ToeJam & Earl
  • Comix Zone
  • Altered Beast
  • Gunstar Heroes
  • Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
  • World of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck
  • Thunder Force III
  • Super Fantasy Zone
  • Shinobi III
  • Streets of Rage 2
  • Earthworm Jim
  • Sonic The Hedgehog 2
  • Probotector
  • Landstalker
  • Mega Man®: The Wily Wars
  • Street Fighter II®: Special Champion Edition
  • Ghouls' n Ghosts®
  • Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle
  • Story of Thor
  • Golden Ax
  • Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
  • Sonic The Hedgehog Spinball
  • Vectorman
  • Wonder Boy in Monster World
  • Tetris
  • Darius
  • Road Rash II
  • Strider
  • Virtua Fighter 2
  • Alisia Dragoon
  • Kid Chameleon
  • Monster World IV
  • Eternal Champions
  • columns
  • Dynamite Headdy
  • Light Crusader

I am most happy with the presence of forgotten gems from the past. Great and original games such as Ecco the Dolphin, Altered Beast, Castle of Illusion and ToeJam & Earl. These are unobvious items, but really interesting. Thanks to them, the SEGI offer is relatively original and does not replicate in a significant way with the catalog of other retro-consoles. Mega Drive gains its own character thanks to such productions and becomes more than just a copy of Nintendo consoles.

[-] No further titles can be installed

Like other retro-consoles, the SEGA Mega Drive Mini does not allow you to record the production from an external media or download them to the device's memory via the Internet. A pity. I would not really be offended if the software had a place for a digital store in which I could expand the catalog of playable titles for modest money. If the games cost $ 2-3, I would definitely make a few purchases.

It is a pity that the original SEGA Mega Drive Mini was one of the most "networked" consoles of the 90s. A special adapter could be purchased to connect the device to cable television. Through the cable, players could download demos, write codes and buy new productions. Although this service cost $ 15 a month, at the peak of its popularity 250,000 players used it!

To think that some people think that the console access to the network began with PS3 and X360 ...

[+] Adjusting the image to the latest displays

One of the most important areas of the retro-console is to match the device to modern televisions. Fortunately, the SEGA Mega Drive Mini does not limit users to an archaic 4: 3 ratio. Of course, nothing prevents you from playing such settings. However, if you want to use the entire surface of the TV set in the living room, this option is also provided.

In addition to the 16: 9 aspect ratio, the console also offers a special, artificially generated CRT filter. His task is to distort the image so that it is imperfect as in the 90s. Unfortunately, the console does not offer any advanced graphic editing, such as sharpening the edges or switching between PAL and NTSC modes.

[+] Full-size controllers

The retro-console PlayStation Classic was scandalous in that the controllers were smaller than the original Sony console. Fortunately, SEGA did not go easy and does not save on the pads. Thanks to this, these are exactly the same as in the 90s. We are not dealing with any budget version. The characteristic pattern of three ABC buttons, so different from today's quadruple standard, returns with the original pattern.

In the set with the console we will find two controllers, which praises. It is a pity that, as in all other retro-consoles, the architects did not risk an alternative wireless mode of pad operation. Fortunately, the SEGI cables are long enough and you do not have to sit directly in front of the TV. There is also no need to worry about possible jerks - the solid console seems quite solid. It is a pity that nothing is happening when connecting to the laptop.

[-] No scrolling

Nintendo came up with a great idea with scrolling games on your retro console. When playing on the SNES Mini platform, we can reverse the action as if we were going back the film recorded on the VHS tape. This is a great solution for those who find games from the last century too difficult. Did you fall into the abyss? You fire the scrolling, you choose the moment just before the jump and resume the game. Life saved.

SEGA Mega Drive Mini does not have this type of additional improvements. The biggest interference in the game is the ability to record progress freely. Each of the 41 productions received four save blocks, which we can freely overwrite. It's a standard in retro consoles, but it's worth mentioning.

[+] Power supply via USB cable, without looking for a socket

We do not need a dedicated charger to effectively power the SEGA Mega Drive Mini console. All you need is a USB cable plugged into your smartphone's charger, a laptop socket, a TV socket, or even a PS4 or Switch. This is great news especially for those who already have a set of occupied slots behind an RTV cabinet.

Of course, there is also the question of connecting the console to the TV. The classic HDMI cable that is added to the set is enough here. The box has a console, two pads, a power cable and an HDMI cable. There is no need for more happiness. Although, on the other hand, the dummy cartridge, for example with the blue Sonik, would be an interesting addition.

[+] Headphone jack

An interesting distinguishing feature of the product, but compatible with the original Mega Drive design, is the place for a headphone jack. It found itself in the console housing, right at the regulator regulating the volume level. Wajcha, of course, works and using it we can increase or decrease the volume.

Other interactive elements on the casing include the on / off slider and a reset button to return to the main menu. In it we have a list of all installed games that we can segregate based on the name, number of players or genre. The system options also allow you to change the wallpaper visible in the background and select the language. I do not think anyone will be surprised that the list lacked the Polish language. I'm left with English.

SEGA Mega Drive Mini - will it hit or putty?

Already after the first contact with the device, I have no doubt that the Mini is much more thought out and refined than the PlayStation Classic. Retro PSX looks great on the shelf, but fails in terms of games and action. With SEGA it is completely the opposite. The console looks very uninteresting in terms of the visual, but the selection of games satisfies and satisfies.

I can not write anything for you about the quality of the emulator itself. At first glance, games requiring great fluency, such as Street Fighter II or Virtua Fighter 2, work perfectly. However, during a longer game, I recorded a few slow downs. The liquidity settled down for a few moments, as if the device did not cope with the events on the screen. However, I can not judge how special this effect is and how weak the emulator is. I need to run longer tests.

Until then, I encourage you to treat with a detachment all those who blindly praise the operation of the emulator. The console itself makes a very good first impression, but it's worth keeping vigilance after the PS Classic slip-up.



SEGA Mega Drive Mini console test - the biggest disadvantages and advantages of the new 90's retro platform

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